broken reed

an unreliable or undependable person. (On the image of a useless, broken reed in a reed instrument.) You can't rely on Jim's support. He's a broken reed.Mr. Smith is a broken reed. His deputy has to make all the decisions.

broken reed

A weak or unreliable support, as in I'd counted on her to help, but she turned out to be a broken reed. The idea behind this idiom, first recorded about 1593, was already present in a mid-15th-century translation of a Latin tract, "Trust not nor lean not upon a windy reed."

A broken reed in the political backwaters, CCFC MP meets a bewildering array of characters promising instant political success: Swedish insurance salesmen; Birmingham seat sellers; sweary scousers and even Young Asian Businessmen of the Year.

Trainer Tom George enhanced his fine record on the course by landing a double with Broken Reed, who took the extended three-mile intermediate hurdle in the hands of Jason Maguire, and Burwood Breeze, who scored easily under Paddy Brennan in the three-mile handicap chase.

Jodante provided Richard Guest and John Flavin with a double, following the earlier success of Red Perk, when getting up to deny Classic Rock by a neck in the two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase, while Broken Reed made a winning debut in Britain after being left clear two out in the maiden hurdle when Mungo Jerry unseated jockey Tom Messenger.

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